Channels of content for display in an online system
AssigneeMeta Platforms, Inc.
InventorDebashish Paul
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Ephemeral stories allow users of an online system, such as a social networking system, to share content for a pre-determined temporary length of time. Channels group and organize stories based on content. Topic-based channels allow contain stories that have related content. Hashtag- and sticker-associated channels contain stories that include particular hashtags or stickers, respectively. User-specific channels contain content tailored by the online system for display to a particular user based on preferences and history. Collaborative channels are channels that are private to a specific group of users. The use of channels improves the online experience by grouping stories by content, thereby facilitating users' interaction with similar content.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- receiving, by an online system, a request from a user to create a story that is associated with visual content and a time threshold that sets a temporary lifespan of the story;
- receiving a selection from the user of a visual hashtag to add to the story;
- creating a first story with the visual hashtag displayed as a graphic icon on the visual content of the first story;
- providing the first story for display to a viewing user, the first story displaying the visual hashtag;
- receiving an interaction by the viewing user with the graphic icon of the visual hashtag while the first story is playing for the viewing user during a predetermined display time, the interaction indicating a request to add a story with new visual content to the same visual hashtag;
- creating a second story with the visual hashtag displayed on the new visual content as a graphic icon, the second story having a time threshold that sets a temporary lifespan;
- creating a channel associated with the visual hashtag that includes the first story and the second story, wherein, when the channel is played, the channel displays the first story and the second story in a sequential order such that when the first story finishes playing for the predetermined time, the channel automatically switches to playing the second story, the first story available for viewing during the time threshold for the first story and the second story available for viewing during the time threshold for the second story;
- and
- providing the channel for display to other users based on the visual hashtag, wherein other users can interact with the visual hashtag to add stories to the channel.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for execution on a computer processor, the instructions when executed performing actions comprising:
- receiving, by an online system, a request from a user to create a story that is associated with visual content and a time threshold that sets a temporary lifespan of the story;
- receiving a selection from the user of a visual hashtag to add to the story;
- creating a first story with the visual hashtag displayed as a graphic icon on the visual content of the first story;
- providing the first story for display to a viewing user, the first story displaying the visual hashtag;
- receiving an interaction by the viewing user with the graphic icon of the visual hashtag while the first story is playing for the viewing user during a predetermined display time, the interaction indicating a request to add a story with new visual content to the same visual hashtag;
- creating a second story with the visual hashtag displayed on the new visual content as a graphic icon, the second story having a time threshold that sets a temporary lifespan;
- creating a channel associated with the visual hashtag that includes the first story and the second story, wherein, when the channel is played, the channel displays the first story and the second story in a sequential order such that when the first story finishes playing for the predetermined time, the channel automatically switches to playing the second story, the first story available for viewing during the time threshold for the first story and the second story available for viewing during the time threshold for the second story;
- and
- providing the channel for display to other users based on the visual hashtag, wherein other users can interact with the visual hashtag to add stories to the channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.